AIBU to think Landlords should be forced to have some sort of formal training.

[Peanutbutteryum]

After reading numerous threads on here from people claiming to be landlords but clearly lack any basic understanding of housing laws and their legal requirements to their tenants.

Too many landlords see letting as an investment where they don’t have to do anything rather than a business with rules and laws you have to abide by. In no other industry could you simply rock up with no training what’s so ever, even stacking shelves requires a two day training period.

Being a landlord will most likely be one of the most expensive things you will do, wouldn’t you want to know everything so you can protect yourself.

There are a lot of amazing landlord who know exactly what they are doing and do everything right. Sadly for every great one there will be one who thinks they can attend the property without any notice, that they can kick people out when they like and not keep the property in a liveable condition.

Even a one day training session would make a big difference. They could run through basic housing laws and what is expected of you. When you take on the role of a landlord you are taking on a huge responsibility, I can’t believe you can do it without any information.

I put this idea to a few of my friends who have had a mixed reaction. AIBU to this would help a lot of problems that come up for people renting.

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

I agree with barbarian and others that the system needs better regulation overall.

However, I do think training for landlords wouldn't be a bad idea. I have had some excellent LL, and maybe one who was deliberately, cynically shit, but most of the problems I've come across have been to do with ignorance and unrealistic expectations. Lots of 'what on earth do you mean, I can't just let myself in?' and 'well, unfortunately you will have to wait for that boiler to be mended because we can't justify the cost right now'.

It is upsetting and frustrating, as a tenant, to have to deal with this, but what I find disturbing is that I genuinely believe they didn't know the basics.

I wish tenants knew more about their rights too, though. When I was 22 I had a a LL who thought she come let herself in daily, including into our rooms, and could lay down the law about tiny details like which kitchen cupboard we used and where we put shampoo in the bathroom. Not one other tenant (it was a large HMO) agreed with me when I asked her to stop letting herself in and to start giving us 24hrs notice, as they genuinely believed 'it is her home, you are being rude'.

They were mostly in their early 20s too, and mostly a long way from home.

I think the situation will have to change - on both sides - as more and more people are looking at renting as a long-term and normal way of life again.

[Overrunwithlego]

I think it would be helpful but alas I suspect many bad landlords know that they are behaving badly and don't care, which it won't solve. I would gladly pay for training on a regular basis to keep up to date with changes etc but if it was a voluntary thing then I suspect those who need it the most will be the ones who don't do it. I agree regulation is possibly a better way forward and that could include mandatory training / a licence. But regulation would also be costly - and ultimately the cost would be passed onto tenants.

[Watto1]

Here in Wales there already is a licencing scheme for landlords. Google 'Rent Smart Wales' if you are interested in the finer details. All landlords have to be registered and undergo training.

[ReallyTired]

Regulating agencies better would be more cost efficient than forcing every landlord on to a course. A landlord would either have to use an approved agency or take the course themselves.

The problem with excessive red tape is that the costs are passed on to the tenant. Another area that needs looking at is agency fees paid by tenants. Often agencies charge both the tenant and the landlord for check out and set up fees. Landlords are in a stronger position to shop around for better rates. Tenants are often desperate for a home.

[Watto1]

Meant to add, it costs roughly £200 to register, do the training and get the licence.

[dowhatnow]

I like the booklet idea. It would have been handy at the time.
A shit landlord is going to be a shit landlord though, regardless of any training.

[ReallyTired]

A £200 fee will result in rents going up by at least £20 a month. Partly because it discourages people from renting out their property and reducing supply. In my area landlords can pick and choose their tenants and get a nice return.

Licensing the agencies would encourage the agencies to act honestly. A decent agency will support the tenant as well as the landlord.

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

Yes, dowhat but lots of LL are other-than-great (or shit) because they're ignorant, and therefore shocked by what seems to them bizarre and unreasonable.

You see it on MN from time to time - someone will post saying they're planning to start being a LL, and want to do x and y. And they'll go from 'hmm, I'm sure I'm reasonable' to 'argh, I had no idea of all of these requirements!' in the space of a thread.

[butterfliesandzebras]

I think it's a good idea. Have a short course covering the basics leading to a landlord license. Make it illegal to operate as a landlord without a license, and take away the licences of landlords who flout the law.

[dowhatnow]

you're probably right LRD but a booklet would do the same job.

[FleurThomas]

To be honest if you start professionalizing land lords then people who don't need the income (think foreign investors) will just leave houses empty rather than rent out.

[MackerelOfFact]

I agree there should be a landlord register which you can be struck off of following an indiscretion. I've always wanted to start up a TripAdvisor-type website for landlords, as I find it incredible that tenants have to pay for the landlord to a credit and reference check on them, yet tenants can't run any sort of check on landlords.

[dowhatnow]

Now if it was connected to a license that could be taken away, that would be a different matter and would definitely help the poor sods stuck in inferior accomodation.

[user1474305244]

I was a landlord! Never ever again it nearly finished me off. Tenants are no angels, they treated my house like a slum. I adhered to all legalities but the constant idiocy was horrendous.

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

YY, dowhat, not disagreeing with that.

[BabyGanoush]

People asking for booklets makes me

There are some very good websites for landlords (and tenants) out there, with lots of good info.

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

Yes, baby, but the difficult isn't finding the info, it's knowing that you need to know it.

If, when you started the process, you knew you had to go download booklet 471 or whatever, you'd start the process sensibly.

In the current situation, a lot of LL either seem to imagine that it's all to do with common sense and therefore they will be fine, or they don't distinguish between reputable sites (like the government's, or Shelter) and forums (like this one, though this one isn't bad) where any random person can ask questions and where the quality of replied depends purely on who chooses to sound authoritative on a given day.

[Frustratedmamabear]

At the rate the tax situation is going, a lot of the accidental landlords are going to disappear. We have a house that we wanted to let out but the tax situation is such that we would be paying quite a lot come 2020 to have someone rent it from us. Plus the bastard extra stamp duty on our next purchase.

Highly ironic given that RICS issued a PR this morning about how the rental market is going to be in short supply.

I agree there should be some recognition of basic requirements or all handed off to someone qualified

[lasttimeround]

It's hard to get a good letting agent. Ours isn't cheap and has a good reputation but they simply cover their asses a lot. So I have to Google to check some requirements are actually required and details of exceptions etc. Annoying as it leaves less cash for the nicer things for the flat which tenant could enjoy.

I don't think info and knowledge is really the problem. There's guides online on all that. It's difficult to fit in managing repairs scgeduling maintenance etc so we need an agent but it's not ideal. Training doesn't solve thrt

[JellyBelli]

YANBU. Under the current system, tenenats have to risk losing their home to make a complaint about a bad landlord who doesnt even meet minimum legal standards.
It should be the other way around; they should demonstrate they do meet the minimum standards before they are permitted to let the protperty.

[specialsubject]

FFS.

revenge evictions outlawed.

the 'how to rent' booklet is a legal requirement for all new tenancies.

Threads suggesting that tenants have rights (and should perhaps get informed of them?) are Not Allowed in shiny fluffy MN world. My mistake.

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

I think people are suggesting a booklet for all landlords, not all tenants?

I agree tenants ought to learn about their rights, but as others say, it is wrong that the pressure to abide by the law tends to be responsive (to tenants complaining about LL), when tenants are in the position of lesser power.

I know that there is a strong 'LL can do no wrong' faction on MN and an equally strong 'tenants are all oppressed' faction, though, so arguing for a bit of common sense and more accessible info is probably not going to go over well.

[ReallyTired]

Bad landlords are unlikely to read any booklet. There is plenty of information on how to rent on the Internet. I think an Internet link would be better rather than using the tenant's money to pay printing costs.

A good agency looks after the tenants as well as the landlord. Regulating agencies would improve renting.

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

really - a booklet doesn't automatically mean printed?

I agree with you about actively bad LL.

But so many LL are 'bad' because they're ignorant or assume they're already informed, so it would be good if they were directed to this stuff.

At the moment, the situation is a bit like telling drivers they can go out on the road, and there may be rules, but they're pretty obvious - and then expecting them to reverse-engineer the Highway Code by asking questions on MN.

[ReallyTired]

Most landlords use an agency. The agency's role is to give the landlord the right advice so that they are within the law. If all agencies had to out their staff through training and exams then tenants would get a better deal.

Ignorance is not a defence. Part of running a business is being professional enough to know your responsibilities. The inland revenue sends out a guide to renting when you first register as a landlord already. It mainly covers tax responsibilities, but it does mention gas safety.